ALLPI’s Executive Director Prof. Dr. Mwinyikione Mwinyihija accompanied by Prof. Mekonnen Hailemariam Ag. Program Coordinator and Mr. Nasir Mahmoud Talab – ALLPI Cluster Expert were on mission to Sudan from 22nd – 27th December 2019 .
The objectives of the mission were:
- To validate and launch two Diploma level Curricula in Leather Technology at Sudan Technological University (STU); and
- To meet leather sector stakeholders in Sudan (Private, Public and Academia)
The ALLPI Team first met and discussed with the RISM Project Implementation Unit (PIU), on the procurement of the equipment supported by the RISM program for Karari Vocational Training Center and Sudan University for Science and Technology leather Incubator, as well as the other budget lines related to development of the leather Value Chain in Sudan.
The ALLPI Team also paid courtesy call to the Under-Secretary, Mr. Mohamed Ali AbdAllah, Ministry of Industry & Trade and discussed on the way forward in the implementation of the Sudan’s Leather Value Chain Strategy and ALLPI’s role in the development of leather sector in Sudan through specific intervention in line with ALLPI strategic objectives. The meeting with the Undersecretary was also attended by Mr. Nadir Elrayah Awad – Director of International Relations and Mr. Adel Fadallah Elnadif Acting Head of COMESA Coordinating Unit.
Two Diploma curricula in leather Technology, namely, Diploma Program in Leather Industries Engineering –Leather Manufacturing Processes and Diploma Program in Leather Industries Engineering –Leather Products, that were developed through ALLPI facilitation, in collaboration with Sudan Technological University, were validated and launched at the Sudan Technological University (STU) on December 23, 2019. The event was attended by the University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Ali Mohammed Hamdan Adam and other University officials.
The ALLPI Team also visited the Sudan University for Science and Technology (SUST) and met and discussed with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Awad Saad Hassan Mohamed and other University officials on the way forward regarding the future cooperation. The SUST-ALLPI collaborative research project concept note entitled, “Enhanced academia involvement for fast tracking SMEs development in the leather sector in Sudan” was also reviewed and finalized for implementation.
Some of the other major activities conducted during the mission period are shown in pictorial form with brief descriptions here below.
The ALLPI Team met and discussed with Dr. Tageldin Saeed, Director General of Ministry of Industry and Commerce – Khartoum State, on the issues related to ways and means of enhancing the Khartoum Leather Council and the Gari Industrial Park activities.
The ALLPI Team visited the Karari Vocational Training and Entrepreneurship Center and had discussions with Mr. Mukhtar Mahmoud, Director General, Vocational Training Administration, Ministry of Human Development and Labour-Khartoum State, Dr Abdel Rahim Mohamed Ahmed, Strategic Planning Director at Supreme Council for Human Development and Labour-Khartoum State, Mr. Elgasim Hassan Abdalla, Director, Vocational Training and Entrepreneurship Center, Karari, and other staff of the center
The ALLPI Team also visited the International University of Africa and held discussions with the Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Kamal M. Obeid Babikir and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Musa Taha. The two institutions (International University of Africa and ALLPI) signed MoU to work together to develop the mechanisms and to undertake activities jointly, that will promote and sustain the value adding activities along the leather value chain, in Sudan.
The ALLPI Team visited Robitan Tannery in Khartoum North and met and discussed with representative of the private sector and other stakeholders such as the chamber of footwear manufacturers, Industrial Development Bank and SUST incubator that were invited for the meeting at the Robitan Tannery. The issues discussed were focusing on constrains facing the tanning industry and footwear manufacturing in Sudan.
